© AFP
The Bangladesh selectors have recalled veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak for the Chittagong Test against Sri Lanka, as further cover for the injured Shakib Al Hasan.
Razzak’s addition makes it a 16-man Test squad after the selectors also included left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and allrounder Tanbir Hayder on Saturday evening, hours after Shakib was ruled out of the Test. Shakib sustained a left hand little finger injury during the tri-series final.
Razzak returns to the senior side after over three years during which he was overlooked in all formats; even for this Test side, someone as inexperienced as Nayeem Hasan was considered ahead of him.
Razzak recently became the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 500 first-class wickets, and has been the standout performer in Bangladesh in the format in the last few years. He leads this season’s wicket-takers’ list with 40 scalps in nine matches.
But Razzak has a modest Test record, having taken only 23 wickets in 12 Tests across nearly eight years. Since his last Test in February 2014, however, he has taken been the top wicket-taker in Bangladesh domestic first-class cricket, with 244 wickets. The next best during the same period has been Sunzamul who is behind by 94 wickets.
More to follow…
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo